Connecticut Yankee Council
Boy Scouts of America
Council Coordinated Operations Meeting
March 19, 2024, 7:30 – 9:00 PM
Breakout Meeting Notes
Key Committees and Chairs
Advancement: Charlie Blanchette
Activities: John Hanks
Camping: Bill Hall
District Chairs: Gregg, Steve, Dan
Membership: Seth Strohecker
Training: Donna Wesolowski
Marketing: Bob Brown
Commissioners: Gene Waring
Properties: Mike Card
International Rep: Steve Agnew
Safety Moment
With the start of Daylight Savings Time, our thoughts turn to…. First Aid Kits. This is a great time of the year to look at your unit and personal First Aid Kits, including those you have (or should have) in each of your vehicles. We should replace items that we have used in the past but not replenished, also check the expiration dates on items in the First Aid Kits. Items that may not have expiration dates, such as vinyl gloves, should be checked. First Aid Kits are invaluable in emergencies. Make sure that all your First Aid Kits are up to date. https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/safety-moments/first-aid-kits/
Camping Committee Notes
Atendees:
Bill Amidon, Bill Hall, Bret Morrow, Roger Poggio, Ray Pflomm, Jeff Hannigan, Greg Zap, Pat Maxim
Sequassen Report:
Shower House project is under way
Shotgun range has been repositioned
New space for Nathan Hale has been cleared Nathan Hal move is in progress
Two new pavilions are being built in the handicrati area This is being paid for by the Order of the Arrow
A new Dishwasher has been ordered – This is being paid for by the Sequassen Alumni Association
The new Table Saw is installed in the workshop
Hoyt Report:
Tree maintenance is under way
A new south gate is being investigated
Greg is talking with a local person to help with projects at camp Work is being done in the big field to prepare it for the summer
Wah Wah Taysee Report:
Last weekend was the 4th weekend of sugaring at camp Two troops got to experience the process
They each got a pint of maple syrup May only get one more week of sugaring
Camping Commitee Mission:
Pat Maxim presented an outline for the new Camping Commitee. He explained the tasks and their relation to the National Outdoor Program Commitee. There were several links to the National materials. A document was displayed and discussed about the jobs and job descriptions for commitee members.
There is a need to atract new members to fill all the positions Pat should be sending this document out to the committee
Membership Commitee Notes
District Updates
• Aquila – new membership chair just geting aquatinted with the position
• Quinnipiac – Reached out to packs about Webelos to Scout transition, working on
updating the school recruitment tracker, working to get out communications about
special needs scouting
• Saugatuck – No report
Membership Topics
Membership Team Structure
With so many new team members joining we discuss how we wanted the commitee to be structured. The following positions were discussed to add at the council level and potential recruitment targets
• Webelos to Scout
• Female Recruitment and Development
• Pre-School Outreach
• Latino Outreach
• Special Needs – Michael Carroll
At the district level the focus will be on recruiting town coordinators and a detailed discussion
will be had at next month’s meeting.
New Member Guide
Plan to develop a new guide to be distributed to members upon the input of their application. Discussed the content of the guide which should include:
• BSA structure
• Activities
• Scout Shop Discount?
• Equipment List
• Uniform Guide
• Camp Guide
• Summer Programs
• Advancement and Awards
• Youth Protection
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Boy vs Girl units
• Contact Info
Misc
• Update to the flyer requests to allow for a mail merge option to make it easier on staff to create flyers
• Promote to units to use the eclipse as a opportunity to recruit new scouts
• Communicate to units that $25 new member fee will be going away
• Clarify the rules on use of scouts photos on social media
Training Committee Notes
Upcoming Courses were Discussed:
| Date | Program | Location | Contact | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 27 | Wilderness First Aid | SEQ | Ed Gratrix | FULL |
| May 4-5 | IOLS | Hoyt | Jacob Cedusky | Open |
| June 1-2 | BALOO | Hoyt | Jacob Cedusky | Open |
| Summer | IOLS Self Led at Sequassen | SEQ | Mike Migliore | Open |
| Aug | NYLT | SEQ | Jacob Cedusky | Pending |
| Aug 23-25, Sept 21-22 | Wood Badge | SEQ/Hoyt | Sabrina Doolittle | Open |
The main portion of the Training Committee meeting was spent reviewing University of Scouting held on March 16. We discussed different venues, pros and cons of combining efforts with CRC, improving communications, and how we can improve attendance. Overall the feeling was that we had a successful event for those that attended, but there are always ways to make things better. A request for comments has gone out to all participants and instructors and we will see what responses we get. We discussed also surveying all leaders to see reasons they did/didn’t attend. This will continue to be discussed at future meetings.
Review of other past trainings:
• New Cub Scout Program Zoom: a small number of atendees but an excellent presentation; Session was recorded for any who wish to view.
• Trainer’s EDGE/Fundamentals: Successful day of training.
17 atendees; 5 from out of Council
Commissioners Notes
• Safety Moment: Please encourage safety moments with beginning of all meeting. Adult, youth, get the SPL involved etc. Using a Safety Moment in all Scouting Activities.
• Commissioner’s resources available at National Website.
• New- Unit and membership renewal discussion and is on National WS.
• Geting more unit commissioners- the personal approach.
• Council website.
• The role of the Commissioners, at unit, district, and council level.
• Next meeting at ops, plus discuss of meeting off site quarterly.
Activity Committee Notes
All districts were represented.
The Activity Committee met with the Advancement Committee and Joe Loffredo (Scouting in the Trades) to discuss how we can avoid scheduling events on the same weekend – the start of the Merit Badge College on the same weekend of a Klondike Derby. The Advancement Committee is considering alternate dates for the Merit Badge College.
The Activity Committee recommends a 2024-25 Program Planning Session for the Spring – either by District or a Council event. Most units have a late spring or summer program planning session and we want to make sure they have key dates to include in their planning.
2024-2025 Program Year with the following dates selected:
2024
• Sept 6-8 OA Induction Weekend (OA)
• Sept 13-15 Aquila District Fall Camporee at Hoyt (Activity Commitee)
• Sept 27-29 Scout Day at Lime Rock (Activity Commitee)
• Oct 5 Cub Scout Field Day at Hoyt – Day event with optional Pack family camping
(Activity Commitee)
• Oct 4-6 OA Fall Fellowship (OA)
• Oct 18-20 Saugatuck District Fall Camporee at Hoyt (Activity Commitee)
• Oct 18-20 Quinnipiac District Fall Camporee at Sequassen (Activity Commitee)
• Oct 26 Fright Night at Sequassen (Activity Commitee)
• Nov 2 Cuboree at Old Mine Park, Trumbull (tentative) (Activity Commitee)
• Nov 9 Expanded Webelos College – featuring an AOL College, a Webelos College and a
Bear College (Activity Commitee)
2025
• Jan 3-5 NYLT WK 1 (Training Commitee)
• Jan 10-12 NYLT WK 2 (Training Commitee)
• Jan 17-19 Aquila District Klondike at Hoyt (Activity Commitee)
• Jan 17-19 Quinnipiac District Klondike at Sequassen (Activity Commitee)
• Jan 24-26 Saugatuck District Klondike at Hoyt (Activity Commitee)
• Feb 1 Cub Scout Polar Bear hosted by Saugatuck District (Activity Commitee)
• May 10 OA Spring Fellowship at Hoyt (OA)
• May 16-18 ConnJam (ConnJam Commitee/Activity Commitee)
• May 30-Jun 1: OA June Order at Sequassen
JC Cinelli reviewed plans for the May 3-4-5, Dual Camporee – A Star Wars Theme – “May the 4th Be with You” — with identical programs at Hoyt and Sequessen. Activities, budget, patch and ribbons were discussed. Leaders Guide Coming Soon. Registration is live! Camp walk-through is being scheduled Sunday, April 7 with teams at both Hoyt and Sequassen. A Zoom test between the two camps is on the agenda.
An action-packed spring into summer includes:
• District and Council Pinewood Derby’s Aquila Apr 6, Saugatuck Apr 20, and Quinnipiac
May 11
• Rocket Academy April 13
• Pirates of the Q Quinnipiac Spring Cub Scout Event May 10-12 at Camp Sequassen
• Fishing Derby May 18 at Camp Matatuck
• Cub Scout Summer Family Weekend at Hoyt July 12-14 and July 26-28
• Cub Scout Webelos/AOL Aug 11-14 at Camp Sequassen
The Activity Committee will continue with in person hybrid format for future Ops Meeting.
The breakout session adjourned at 8:30 PM
Advancement Committee Notes
All Districts were represented.
Advancement Committee met with the Activities Committee to discuss the dates for the Klondike Derby and the Merit Badge College be moved to 1st weekend of February 2025. Both sides gave their reasons for why the dates needed to be changed. The Advancement Committee will see how the dates can work.
Eric Brantley asked to talk with the committee on a one-day program for scouts at the Federal Court in New Haven and if there were any chances that some requirements for any of the Citizen Merit Badges could be earned. The committee said it would look into it and get back to him.
District Chairs Breakout
District Chairs met with Council Board Chair Jim Accomando, Assistant Scout Executive Joseph Andreo and Caroline Griffin.
Nate Schindler reported on the successes in filling critical roles in the Saugatuck District. Saugatuck will utilize in-person networking nights and Zoom sessions in alternating months in pursuit of the ongoing training and development of the Committee.
Gregg Baimel reported similar progress in the development of the Aquilla District, noting that roundtables have been well attended.
Dan Burns reported that Quinnipiac District is emphasizing recruitment for the Committee, with focusing on acute needs in Development, Advancement and Training.
The group discussed the importance of establishing defined job descriptions for Committee positions as a means of establishing expectations for new members. Recruitment for Development positions may benefit from looking outside of Scouting, especially among those with relevant professional experience. Such a strategy could bring access to fresh fundraising opportunities. The Chairs also discussed the importance of encouraging commitees to set realistic goals with a few key tasks as a means of achieving progress.
Communications and Marketing Committee Notes Respectfully submitted,
Jay Lubin
Chair, Council Operations Meeting March 28, 2024
Updated April 7, 2024
Added District Chairs Breakout Notes
